Conservation District seeks Supervisor and offers once-in-a-lifetime landowner funding

There's an upcoming election that few seem to know about. It is for the position of District Supervisor for the White River Natural Resources Conservation District. Thetford folks may ask, " So, what's that got to do with us?"

The little-known White River Natural Resources Conservation District, or WRNRCD, is a broad geographic area that encompasses the towns of Thetford, Fairlee, W. Fairlee, Bradford, Newbury, Topsham, Corinth, Vershire, Strafford, Sharon, Barnard, Royalton, Tunbridge, Chelsea, Brookfield, Randolph, Bethel, Stockbridge, Pittsfield, Rochester, Braintree, Granville and Hancock. It also includes parts of Orange, Washington and Williamstown. These towns constitute the Direct Watersheds of the White River, Waits River, Wells River, Ompompanoosuc River and part of the Connecticut River. 

In fact the state of Vermont is divided along watershed lines into 14 Natural Conservation Districts that are local subdivisions of Vermont state government. They were created under the Soil Conservation Act of 1939 in a direct response to the crisis of the Great Dust Bowl of the 1930s. This environmental disaster was caused by unsound land settlement patterns, overgrazing, and exploitative, gasoline-powered farming coupled with disregard for the Great Plains climate. In one dust storm, three hundred million tons of formerly productive topsoil was blown from the Great Plains to Chicago, Cleveland, and Buffalo and eventually to the Eastern seaboard.

The Soil Conservation Act provides "for the conservation, development and use of the natural resources of this state." The statute goes on to say "that the lands, water, forests, and wildlife of the State of Vermont are among the basic assets of the State, and that the preservation of these lands, water, forests, and wildlife by conservation, development, and use is necessary to protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of its people."  NRCDs were formed to lead local efforts to protect soil, water, and air through four main programs: agriculture, conservation of natural resources, education, and preventing or repairing stormwater damage.

To implement these programs, the WRNRCD offers the following services. Under Agriculture, the Farm Teams program offers management assistance for farms with a team approach that can include "grazing specialists, business planners, seed/fertilizer consultants, bank-loan representatives, and veterinarians." WRNRCD also assists farmers with grazing planning; nutrient management (fertilizer, manure); farm equipment rental in partnership with the CT River Watershed Farmers' Alliance; assistance with Required Agricultural Practices Compliance to protect VT waters from the impacts of agriculture;  and an introduction to agroforestry that incorporates trees and shrubs into farms, be it crop or livestock operations, to provide economic, environmental and social benefits. They also organize Farm Force that seeks to engage people in building "resilient, agrarian-based economies and communities ... as part of a movement to develop food sovereignty and resilience on the ground... helping to famine-proof our communities from climate-driven drought and supply chain breakdown.”

Under conservation of natural resources and flood resilience, they administer the Trees for Streams program to plant streamside buffers that trap sediment and algae-promoting nutrients before they enter water bodies. Buffers can also prevent erosion, support wildlife, and mitigate flooding.  Their Lakes and Rivers program partners with the VT Department of Environmental Conservation to protect and restore lake and river health through landowner education and certification, water testing and road pollution assessment. There is also a wetland restoration program with a focus on small wetlands that were incorporated into fields before VT adopted its Wetland Rules.

And there is now money available for landowners to participate in such programs and more. Thanks to the hard work and forward-thinking mindset of WRNRCD board members, they have landed a major funding package for 2025: 

"As of 7/17/24, USDA-NRCS Vermont has approved the opportunity for $1 Million in federal funds to be spent across two Local Funding Pools for residents of the White River and Ottauquechee Conservation Districts in fiscal year 2025! "

There is $800,000 available for community-scale agriculture and agroforestry. And of particular relevance to Thetford landowners, there is $200,000 available for wildlife habitat and riparian plantings in the Ompompanoosuc River watershed. 

Any landowner may apply for Ompompanoosuc River watershed funding for a project that falls under one or more of these categories:

• Brush Management
• Herbaceous Weed Treatment
• Conservation Cover
• Critical Area Planting
• Woody Residue Treatment
• Riparian Herbaceous Cover
• Riparian Forest Buffer
• Stream Habitat Improvement and Management
• Wildlife Habitat Planting
• Mulching
• Tree/Shrub Site Preparation
• Tree/Shrub Establishment
• Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management
• Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
• Structures for Wildlife
• Tree/Shrub Pruning

This may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Inquire at WhiteRiverNRCD@gmail.com  or 802-369-3167.

Back to that election. Each NRCD administers its programs through a publicly elected Board of Supervisors who must be residents of the District. However a supervisor does not have to be a District landowner. Duties include supporting and advancing the NRCD's mission, guiding the various programs according to the needs of local natural resources, and financial oversight. The WRNRCD operates transparently, and its financial and operational information may be obtained through its website.

The election for the office of District Supervisor will take place on January 3rd. To be placed on the ballot, one needs a minimum of twenty-five (25) signatures on nominating petitions. Petition-signers and voters must hold title-in-fee land and reside within the District. Supervisors are elected for 5 year terms and may not be employees of the federal government. If there are no nominations, the District Supervisors may appoint a new Supervisor to fill a vacant seat. District Supervisors meet monthly and are paid at a per diem rate of $150 per meeting. This is an exciting opportunity to work with an inspired group on restoring Vermont ‘s land and agrarian-based economies and bolstering the resilience we will surely need in the future.